My sermon notes for Sunday morning, May 17th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided to help you follow the sermon as we walk through the Word each week.
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
The Righteous Judgment of God
Intro
This paragraph continues the thought of vv. 3-4. As the early church was growing and maturing, they we under persecution and affliction AND WERE ENDURING. Keeping on in our walk with Christ is part of the Life of a Believer/Follower of Christ.
This section builds upon that and gives reason and hope of why and how we can continue to endure. BECAUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD IN THE NOW AND NOT YET.
This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God,
Judgment
- The act of judging, or deciding,
- A legal decision order, decree, or sentence given by a judge or a law court,
- The ability to come to opinions about things,
- The power of comparing and deciding.
The Basis of God’s judgment (what makes it righteous)
- God is Holy
- God is Right
- God is to be Feared
Psalm 9:7–8
[7] But the LORD sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
[8] and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness. (ESV)
God’s acting and deciding on the basis of absolute truth and love that is always fair and without partiality
The situation at hand – v. 5
The NOW
That you may be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God
True believers must and can endure suffering so that we may be considered worthy to share in the sufferings of Christ and reign with Him in the Kingdom of God.
- Rev. 2:26, 3:21, 2 Tim. 2:8-13
We ARE worthy (proving) of the Kingdom… when we live like Christ (and live like the disciples of Christ). He was the perfect example.
- His Kingdom is NARROW, SUFFERING
- Our Kingdom (Satan’s whispers in our ear) BROAD, NO SUFFERING
For which you are suffering
Believers will suffer (Consider vv. 1:3-4 to determine a believer)
(in God’s providence we must)
- Expect it
- Live through it
- Learn from it.
- Purify us
- Perfecting us
The judgment to come – vv. 6-7a
The NOT YET
[6] since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, [7] and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us,
Repay with affliction (Sermon…PAYDAY SOME DAY)
- Give back as an equivalent
- Those who bear the fruit of unrighteous (afflict those of truth/church/God’s people)
Grant relief
- Those who bear the fruit of righteousness (Embraces of the truth, the church/God’s people)
The time of God’s judgment – v. 7b-8b
when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels [8] in flaming fire,
When the Lord Jesus is revealed
- From heaven – seated at the throne of God. Rev. 3:21
- With HIS mighty angels
- In flaming fire – Purging and Purifying.
At His first coming His deity was hidden except for a few.
At His second coming His deity will be obvious to all.
The execution of God’s judgment – vv. 8b-10
inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, [10] when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
Inflicting vengeance on those
- Who do not know God (their mind/heart)
- Who do not obey the Gospel (their life)
They will suffer
- Eternal destruction
- From the presence of the Lord and His glory of His might
Glorified and Marveled at all who believed
- At the second coming. (Who believed. I will too late…)
- Our testimony to you was believed
- At that time Paul is reminding them they will receive the ultimate rest and relief because THEY BELIEVED THE GOSPEL THEY PREACHED.
Scripture:
2 Thessalonians 1:5–12
This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—[6] since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, [7] and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels [8] in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, [10] when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. [11] To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, [12] so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)